Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Unpaid plug

I finished Middlesex. Wow. That book is now in my top five fave books. It was like a 20 course meal, each one building on the flavors of the previous so that in true crescendo style, a masterpiece is formed. I read stuff like that book and I'm humbled, what a hack I am, I'll never be a real writer. I hear it took him nine years to write, and I can see why, it seemed formed strictly from the muse, those moments when she visits and clarity, poetry and insight conspire together for a creative geyser to erupt. The way the sky, water and land can sometimes scheme up a jaw dropping vista.

I always have a favorite line in a good book and my favorite from this one was, "There was something in the air, like the air was keeping score." This was before the race riots erupted in Detroit. I loved all the literary tricks in the book too, the simile and the personification (as in my favorite line) so expertly crafted. By the end, I felt like the author and I were intimate friends. If you haven't, you simply must read it. It's about a hermaphrodite, but so much more.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm always pleased to discover a new book to entice me into reading more. It seems my selections lately have been rather lacking, maybe I should go find your latest read and delve into on my flight tomorrow... or maybe been held captive in a plane and terminals will be an opportunity to finish the last tome that seems unending.

-C

CoffeeDog said...

I think I embarked on this book and it didn't draw me in, I'll try again. I am reading No Country For Old Men right now. Also on the side, am reading some some short stories by John Steinbeck. Last on the list is my technical reading to study for the CCNA test. Last on the list, and last to pick up too :-)

Anonymous said...

I can't read much without my eyes going blurry. I usually wait for the movie.
I remember the Race wars of the early 60's in L.A. and Detroit and other major cities. Ed

Anonymous said...

Ugh. To each his own, I guess. I read Middlesex 3 or 4 years ago and found it pretty tedious.

Two of my all-time favourite books are Anne Marie MacDonald's "Fall on Your Knees" and "The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink, both of which I read before Oprah.

Snooze said...

I'm going to go check out Middlesex. I hadn't heard of it, but I rarely read fiction anymore.

ChickenStrip said...

I will have to check it out, T. Maybe something to read on my upcoming trip. I like the line you quoted.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I will put it on my list.

Cooper said...

I read Middlesex last year and loved it, too. It was everything you said ... such rich layers of prose so skillfully transcending the stereotypes and bending the notions of gender. I saw Jeffrey Eugenides interviewed once and something he said has stayed with me. He said that we human beings need a hermaphroditic imagination and heart.

Rox said...

Okay, I will read it too. Not that I ever understand the literary tricks. I just show up for the story. :)

Um, and you could totally be a writer! You've had us all hooked on your words for years!

GayProf said...

Thanks for the recommendation.

Java said...

I second what Rox said. I'm hooked on your writing.

Anonymous said...

Read it last year, and while it took me a bit longer than usual to get drawn in, I did finish it pretty fast and enjoyed it.

My adventures said...

you had me at hermaphrodite...

Anonymous said...

You're welcome.

dantallion said...

I'll never be a real writer

Ummm, at the risk of you thinking that I'm just blowing sunshine up your bum, you already ARE a real writer. Seriously.

The extent to which you decide to capitalize on that formally is really up to you, and what you want.

David said...

I've heard a many good things about this book, but to be honest, it seems dry.

Still, if I could have a life where money and food were provided, I would spend more time reading lots of different genre's and styles -from literary to popular fiction.

With an occasional visit to the history books.

Mark in DE said...

Sounds great! I'll add it to my (ever-growing) reading list.

Mark :-)

RJ March said...

Loved it here, too.

dawn said...

I've heard great things about this book and I even bought it. It's on my pile o'books. Perhaps I shall move it to the top today.